Patents by Inventor Kouta Fujimori

Kouta Fujimori has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7809291
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a predetermined image density can be obtained by correcting a toner density control target value without consuming toner. The output value Vt of the magnetic permeability sensor and the target output value Vtref are compared, and the toner density is controlled by controlling a powder pump on the basis of the comparative result thereof so that the output value Vt approximates the target output value Vtref. In addition, the target output value Vtref is corrected on the basis of the detected result of the image coverage ratio so as to maintain a predetermined development potential of the development apparatus. By virtue of this, even when image forming that involves a significant change in the toner replacement amount in the development apparatus is performed, for example, even when an image of high image coverage ratio is output, the toner density is adjusted to maintain the development capability at a constant, and a predetermined image density is ensured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2010
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Shinji Kato, Shin Hasegawa, Kouta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yushi Hirayama, Takashi Enami, Kazumi Kobayashi, Kiichiro Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7542697
    Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Publication number: 20080152380
    Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 7356290
    Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 7289748
    Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kazuhiko Yuuki, Akio Kosuge, Yoshinori Ozawa, Yoshi Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Kouta Fujimori, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20070116480
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus in which a predetermined image density can be obtained by correcting a toner density control target value without consuming toner. The output The output value Vt of the magnetic permeability sensor and the target output value Vtref are compared, and the toner density is controlled by controlling a powder pump on the basis of the comparative result thereof so that the output value Vt approximates the target output value Vtref. In addition, the target output value Vtref is corrected on the basis of the detected result of the image coverage ratio so as to maintain a predetermined development potential of the development apparatus. By virtue of this, even when image forming that involves a significant change in the toner replacement amount in the development apparatus is performed, for example, even when an image of high image coverage ratio is output, the toner density is adjusted to maintain the development capability at a constant, and a predetermined image density is ensured.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2006
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Nobutaka Takeuchi, Shinji Kato, Shin Hasegawa, Kouta Fujimori, Kayoko Tanaka, Yuji Hirayama, Takashi Enami, Kazumi Kobayashi, Kiichirou Shimizu
  • Publication number: 20070110480
    Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: May 17, 2007
    Inventors: Junichi MATSUMOTO, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 7218880
    Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kazuhiko Yuuki, Akio Kosuge, Yoshinori Ozawa, Yoshi Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Kouta Fujimori, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7209689
    Abstract: A toner container includes a container body having a mouth-piece member positioned at a mouth of the container body. The mouth-piece member includes an opening to allow toner to be discharged from the container body, a valve configured to seal the opening and which allows a nozzle located at a setting portion of an image forming apparatus to protrude into the valve, and a least two guides provided at opposite sides of the mouth-piece member configured to engage with at least two setting guides at the setting portion of the image forming apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2007
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 7130558
    Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, LTD
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 7088945
    Abstract: A container including a container body configured to hold toner and a mouthpiece configured to deliver toner from the container body. The mouthpiece includes a circular outlet and engagement portions configured as openings located at positions opposed to each other around the circular outlet. The circular outlet is positioned at a center location between the positions of the engagement portions, and the engagement portions are configured to engage with guide members provided at a setting portion on which the container is to be mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Publication number: 20060099006
    Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 11, 2006
    Inventors: Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kazuhiko Yuuki, Akio Kosuge, Yoshinori Ozawa, Yoshi Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Kouta Fujimori, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20050169673
    Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Publication date: August 4, 2005
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 6829465
    Abstract: A method of color displacement detection for use in a color image forming apparatus sequentially forming image layers in different colors on a photosensitive member and overlaying the image layers on one after another into a color image on a transferring member. This method includes steps of forming, detecting, and calculating. The forming step forms a predetermined number of mark sets within one circumferential length surface of the transferring member. Each of the predetermined number of mark sets includes a predetermined number of different color marks arranged in a line in a moving direction of the transferring member. The detecting step detects the predetermined number of mark sets formed on the transfer member. The calculating step calculates mean values of displacement amounts of same color marks in different mark sets in the predetermined number of mark sets relative to respectively corresponding reference positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, LTD
    Inventors: Tetsuo Yamanaka, Hiroyasu Shijo, Kazuhiko Kobayashi, Jun Hosokawa, Motonori Hanada, Tadashi Shinohara, Kouta Fujimori
  • Publication number: 20040197120
    Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kazuhiko Yuuki, Akio Kosuge, Yoshinori Ozawa, Yoshi Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Kouta Fujimori, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20040197119
    Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 6748190
    Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kazuhiko Yuuki, Akio Kosuge, Yoshinori Ozawa, Yoshi Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Kouta Fujimori, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto
  • Publication number: 20040091287
    Abstract: The toner supply unit is provided with a preventing unit for preventing toner contamination due to toner leakage from that sealing valve. A mouth ring of the toner container is provided with the sealing valve. This valve is opened/closed by removing/inserting a nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Publication date: May 13, 2004
    Inventors: Junichi Matsumoto, Nobuo Kasahara, Nobuo Iwata, Satoshi Muramatsu, Tomoyuki Ichikawa, Yoshio Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhisa Sudo
  • Patent number: 6690896
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electro photographic image forming apparatus comprising a replacement assembly having a toner container attachable to the image forming apparatus, a feeding unit to feed toner from the toner container to a development unit, and a read/write non-volatile memory, wherein, the image forming apparatus comprising an estimation unit which generates information in such way that first, the estimation unit obtains an amount of a toner feed period for the feeding unit during forming images, next, accumulates the amount of a toner feed period into an accumulated sum of the amount of a toner feed periods, then, generates the information on the amount of toner in the replacement assembly and stores the information in the read/write non-volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Motonori Hanada, Jun Hosokawa, Kouta Fujimori, Kazuhiko Yuuki
  • Publication number: 20030198487
    Abstract: A toner replenishing device includes a toner conveyance path for connecting a toner storing device with a developing device, a toner conveying device for conveying the toner from the toner storing device to the developing device along the toner conveyance path, and an air supplying device connected to the toner conveyance path vie an air supply path for supplying the toner storing device with air from a bottom of the toner storing device so as to agitate the toner pooling in the toner storing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2003
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventors: Takaaki Yanagisawa, Masumi Sato, Kazuhiko Yuuki, Akio Kosuge, Yoshinori Ozawa, Yoshi Hattori, Tomotoshi Nakahara, Kouta Fujimori, Satoshi Muramatsu, Junichi Matsumoto